But higher taxes and unfavorable exchange rates resulted in a 1 percent drop in net income of $97 million versus $98 million last year. Operating income of $234 million, in the period ended Jan. 28, compared with $207 million in the same period last year.

Michaels CEO John Menzer said customers are increasingly buying the store’s private brands which now represent 50 percent of the retailer’s non-custom sales.

Art classes continue to drive traffic and sales of supplies. Bakeware and ribbons were
strong performers, he said. The retailer is now the exclusive seller of Girl Scout crafts.

Michaels plans to open seven stores in Quebec this year. That will put the chain in all 10 Canadian provinces.

This year, the largest U.S. arts and crafts chain plans to open 45 to 50 stores including 10 of its smaller, urban market size stores. It ended the year with 1,198 stores: 1,064 Michaels and 134 Aaron Brothers framing stores.

Michaels was taken private in 2006 but reports financial results because it has public debt.

Dallas-based Texas Instruments Inc. is sponsoring the first Girl Scout “engineering badge” to help thousands of local girls increase their science, technology, engineering and math education.

A TI grant of $35,000 will fund the program, which will be available to 35,000 Girl Scouts in Northeast Texas, for one year.

The program includes badge curriculum and mentoring. TI volunteers helped develop the curriculum, which focuses on encouraging girls to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers.

Nationally, 81 percent of girls are interested in STEM areas, but only 13 percent say it’s their first career choice, according to a new study by the Girl Scout Research Institute.

Trisha Cunningham, TI’s chief citizenship officer, said the study showed that girls’ interest in STEM is higher when they’re exposed to those fields, but 54 percent did not know a woman in a STEM career. The study also found that gender barriers persist: About half think STEM is not a typical career path for girls.

“That’s why we partnered with Girl Scouts to develop a badge program where girls can have fun learning more about STEM and we can encourage area women engineers to get involved as role models,” Cunningham said. “At TI, we see a great demand for female engineers so it is a natural fit for us to partner with the largest pipeline for female leadership.”

In the last five years, TI and its TI Foundation have invested more than $150 million in education. In particular, TI’s Power of STEM Education initiative awarded $225,000 in grants last year and plans to award the remaining $775,000 in the next three years.